Gulledge, Laura Lee

"Mona lives with crippling depression and anxiety. Because the dark emotions that fill her chest feel elemental and expansive, she names them her 'Matter,' which can manifest as a black hole or fog or take on a ghostlike form. But no matter what she calls it, her mental illness keeps her from fully engaging with the world around her. Therapy helps and, through various techniques like meditation, recognizing behavior patterns, and drawing, Mona slowly begins to reconnect with her friends, family, and the art she loves so much. She even breaks out of her shell and tentatively expands her social circle"--Booklist.

"Mona lives with crippling depression and anxiety. Because the dark emotions that fill her chest feel elemental and expansive, she names them her 'Matter,' which can manifest as a black hole or fog or take on a ghostlike form. But no matter what she calls it, her mental illness keeps her from fully engaging with the world around her. Therapy helps and, through various techniques like meditation, recognizing behavior patterns, and drawing, Mona slowly begins to reconnect with her friends, family, and the art she loves so much. She even breaks out of her shell and tentatively expands her social circle"--Booklist.

Paige Turner, who has just moved to New York with her family, uses her sketchbook to try to make sense of her new life, and she finds the process of sharing her artwork and identity with others both scary and rewarding.

Creative Wilhelmina "Will" struggles to come to terms with a family tragedy and participates in an arts carnival that forces her to face her fear of the dark when a hurricane causes a blackout.

Paige Turner, who has just moved to New York with her family, uses her sketchbook to try to make sense of her new life, and she finds the process of sharing her artwork and identity with others both scary and rewarding.